How Will AT&T React To Not Getting The BlackBerry Storm?

We know that a CDMA only touchscreen BlackBerry is coming to North America. The BlackBerry Storm is rumored to hit Verizon anytime between the end of next month and mid November. A Bell BlackBerry Storm is rumored to hit bill towards the end of Q4.

We also know that a GSM variant of the BlackBerry Storm (or Thunder) is coming to Vodafone over in the UK, however, we haven’t heard any plans about the GSM touchscreen BlackBerry showing up in RIM’s biggest market.

I think that, at this point, it is safe call the AT&T BlackBerry Bold launch, or, lack there of, a complete debacle. Some of it is probably RIM’s fault but much of it, I believe, has to do with AT&T being the exclusive carrier of the iPhone in the U.S.

The fact still remains that AT&T is the worlds largest BlackBerry carrier and the most revolutionary BlackBerry to come out in the passed few years won’t make it on to their network.

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Rim is never going to out iPhone the iPhone. If the Bold or the Thunder not being available from ATT is Rim’s fault in any way Rim is shooting itself in the foot on top of the beating the iPhone has and will continue to give Rim and the Blackberry. Rim should make damn sure it’s next generation gear is available to as many consumers, and on as many service providers as they can giving consumers another device to chose other than the iPhone. Good for Verizon for getting the Storm, but we all know whats good for a provider is not whats good for Rim. As many a person has said from the day the iPhone was announced, it is unwise to doubt Apple and Steve Jobs.

RIM will normally sell its devices on every and any carrier willing. You can bet that the Storm was a case of #1. Verizon/Vodaphone came to RIM and asked for a touchscreen device similar to the iPhone. AT&T has the iPhone and probably wouldn’t want the storm (nor would Apple).

Check out the memo on BGR. Seems AT&T is losing some sleep. Bad move on their part for knocking a product of their largest partner. Looks like the relationship has gone sour and doesn’t bode well for them considering Verizon is going LTE down the road.

You say “you’d bet”, but I haven’t seen any such material. To take the chance of letting a piece of material like this get out there, they are taking a risk of explaining to their #1 vendor why they are shooting down a product, even though on a competing service, when they sell plenty of that vendors products via their own site and stores. Is it that far removed that they will ‘never’ sell the storm, thunder, or similar touch screen product they create from RIM? How would they leverage that product vs. the iPhone then?

I’m of the opinion that not is all good in the conference room when AT&T and RIM meet. And with Verizon going the way of LTE down the road, it may decide to limit its distribution through Verizon, Sprint and TMO. I’m sure they are not going to completely kick AT&T out of bed (at least not yet), but may certainly limit what products they get down the road.

I may be just rambling here, but something isn’t right when a memo like that goes out knocking a vendor that brings in much of your revenue.

ATT has no reason to be worried about hurting the feelings of RIM like some are thinking they are. RIM needs ATT more than ATT needs RIM. Till RIM can come up with a device as advanced as the original iPhone there is no need for ATT and TMO to give RIM the time of day.

As for the “memo” Thought is 100% right, it’s business. Verizon has done the same thing many a time. RIM knows it’s business and that their devices still are far behind even the advancement of the original iPhone. RIM needs to work harder but they will never out iPhone the iPhone.

A GSM Storm will come to AT&T. It’s just going to take time. If Vodaphone gets one, we will, but it will have to be timed well (so not as to compete with another nameless over-hyped device). I don’t think the Bold is going to get as warm a reception as previous models because it’s been over-hyped and massively delayed. Bringing the Storm to AT&T will do a lot in the way of mending fences with RIM and the AT&T Blackberry customer base.